Federal Legislation to Respect State Marijuana Laws Proposed

In a move that is decidedly bi-partisan and filled with common sense – and thus a rare move – a coalition of lawmakers (3 Republicans and 3 Democrats), led by United States Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), have proposed legislation that would keep the federal government from criminalizing marijuana in states that allow for legal possession, consumption and distribution. This is in stark contrast to the messages coming out of the White House after WA and CO passed marijuana legalization measures in November 2012 stating that even with state-level marijuana prohibition repeals, they would continue to operate under federal law in those states, pursuing and prosecuting based on the Controlled Substances Act.

The measure is referred to as House Resolution 1523, the Respect State Marijuana Laws Act, and seeks to alter the Controlled Substances Act in order to prevent the federal government from prosecuting owners and operators of legal (according to their state’s laws) marijuana dispensaries and retail stores. This is a potentially huge step forward in the cannabis legalization debate. For years, operators of legal dispensaries in states such as CA have had to endure continual fear and harassment by federal forces – many being shut down and ruined financially – or worse, thrown in prison – more than once. And all of this while complying with CA state law. This legislation is exactly what it claims it is trying to be: “common sense”.